THE PRUSSIAN MILLIONAIRES.

Mataura Ensign, 26 January 1912, Page 2

THE PRUSSIAN MILLIONAIRES.

SOME BIG FIGURES. According to statistics of the income and capital tax which appear in the current number of 'Plutus,' the richest person in the Prussian kingdom is Frau Krupp von Bohlon und Halbach, a striking tribute to the profitable nature of the steel armament industry. In 1908 her property was valued At 11),300,000 her income at £650,000. In the second place comes Prince Guido Henchel von Donnersmarck, with property valued at £8,850,000, and an income of £600,000. This income, which is derived from the most varied sources, has more than doubled during the last fifteen years, while those of the Krupps and Rothschilds have been divided through deaths. Christian Kraft, Prince of Hohen-lohe-Oehrfngen and Duke of Ujest, is the third richest man, with a property valued in 1908 at £7.550,000, and an income of £325,000. Since 1895 the increase in zinc prices has raised the value of the duke's property nearly four times over.

The Rothschild estate, in 1895 the most valuable of all, now comes fourth on the list, having sunk from £13,300,000 in 1899 to £5,350,000 in 1908, through the divisions that followed the death of the old Rothschild in 1899. Fifth comes Henry XV., Prince Pless, with £4,200,000, and an income of £95,000, followed by Hans Ulrich, Count von Schaffgotsch, with £3,950,000, and an income of £220. The income of this last gentleman was enormously increased by his marriage with Johanna Gryzik von Schomberg-Go-dulla, the daughter of a coalminer, but adopted by the rich coal owner, Carl Godulla, who himself started his career as a simple mine inspector.

After these come Freifrau Mathilde von Rothschild, the nearly 80-year-old daughter of the Vienna Rothschilds, with £3,800,000 and an. income of £125,000. Eight on the list conies Edward Beit von Speyer, the member of the wellknown banking-house of Speyer-Elissen, followed by Count Tiele-Wincklcr, who, like Count von Schaffgotsch, has most of his property in coal, and the Duke of Arenberg, a Catholic member of the Reichstag.